No Excuses, Y’all! 15 Easy Ways to Clean Makeup Brushes

Andrea Breitman·Oct 7, 2014

Alright ladies, it’s time to fess up. We’re onto your dirty little secret, or shall we say dirty little makeup brushes, and we think it’s about time we stepped in. We get it. You’re a girl on the go, with back-to-back meetings, a jam-packed social calendar and a million things to do, but let’s not forget the often-overlooked details. We’re talking basics, like flossing (ahem), dusting your apartment and cleaning your makeup brushes regularly. We’re not gonna rattle off all the reasons to NOT go for weeks without a good cleans, (bacteria much? Yuck!), but we ARE going to share with you our 15 easy peasy tutorials and tools that will inspire even the busiest of bees to keep her brushes squeaky clean.

4. Laura Mercier Brush Cleanser ($18): We can’t think of one person who isn’t bananas over this stuff! Mercier is the Queen of makeup so why wouldn’t she be the Master-ess of brush cleanup as well? Oh wait, she is.

5. Instant Brush Cleanser ($12): If any “tip” seems like one too many, here’s your golden ticket. Thanks, Makeup Forever, for knowing that some of us just ain’t got time for that.

6. How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes by Parian Spirit ($23): Ob-sessed. Get your vintage glam on with these incredibly packaged cleansers. Yeah, that net at the bottom of the jar? Brilliant. This is the sort of stuff that makeup artists use to clean their brushes between clients quickly.

12. Jane Iredale Brush Spa ($54): Dear Jane, how are you always thinking such brilliant thoughts? A spa for our brushes? Makes us wonder how we ever lived without this.

13. Benjabelle Brush Tree ($35): Wait, did someone say brush tree? Why do we feel like we are in a dreamlike wonderland? And we thought unicorns were awesome.

14. Japonesque Solid Brush Cleaner ($20): Anything made with goat milk is always welcome in our book. Gentle and travel friendly, this solid is packing a balm that conditions your brushes while it cleans them. And since there’s no liquid to deal with, you’re looking at a mess-free clean.

15. Lazy Way to Clean Your Makeup Brushes ($16): It literally does not get any easier than this. Sephora’s come up with individually packed wipes, no rinse needed. What more could a gal on the go ask for? (via Byrdie)